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Monday, December 16, 2013

{Update} with Hops Diva: A Lady Who Loves Beer

As we inch ever closer to the new year I'm checking in with the ladies who made this first year of features a success. Here's what Hops Diva had to say when I asked her for an update...

What's happened since we last checked in with you?

In the last month, I’ve helped coordinate a beer festival, went to the GALS Christmas party/bottle exchange and attended the Summit's Wayside Tavern Georgia Brewer's Dinner at the Cumming and Snellville locations. Needless to say my liver and I have been busy.

I was always afraid of the space/cost required but with help from my brewing partner Laura and an introductory kit from Brooklyn Brew Shop I'm learning the basics and making one-gallon, all-grain batches. The first beer we brewed together was a Peanut Butter Porter. After trying the Willoughby Brewing Company Peanut Butter Cup Coffee Porter at GABF, I wanted to make something similar. Brooklyn Brewshop had a recipe, so we went for it. We used organic peanut butter, but it was a little oily so the beer didn't have a lot of head retention. I took the beer to a Final Gravity Homebrew meeting and got a lot of good feedback. We've brewed three other beers since--a chocolate maple porter, an IPA and a gingerbread ale. I hope to keep homebrewing and learning as I go.

New brew loves?

As far as favorite brews, I've been really impressed with Jekyll Brewing in Alpharetta. I went on a tour and all the beers were good, but being a hop head, I fell in love with Hop Dang Diggity.

A dream brew?

I've been lucky enough to meet many brewers over the years, but I would love to sit down and have a Pliny the Younger (I've only had the Elder) with Vinnie Cilurzo at Russian River Brewing Company.